I recently shared Paul Prudhomme's Chicken Cacciatore recipe. It brought up some old memories of our trip to New Orleans at least 32 years ago. Paul Prudhomme was my cooking hero then and I just had to go to his K-Paul's Restaurant. It was fantastic! Best of all, the Chef was in the house!
I was very quiet back then and it took all of my nerve to walk up to him and ask, "If he would mind taking a picture with us." He simply said no and I started to walk away very disappointed. He started laughing and said, "You asked if I minded and I don't mind at all." I had not seen the photo above since we took it. I found it by happenstance just a few days after writing about his chicken recipe. It was buried in a box that I never look through. I didn't even know there were pictures in the box. We loved that trip and we certainly loved his restaurant. I will never know why I did not have his cookbook with me to sign.
It seems like it is time to celebrate my discovery and what better way to celebrate than with one of the Chef's greatest creations, his Spiced Pecan Cake with Pecan Icing!
I did put this recipe in my Chicken Cacciatore post, but it is worth a second look. There are a lot of layers of flavor to this cake, from the toasted pecans, to the rich spices and to the flavor enhancing glaze added to the cake after it is baked. The icing is super rich and plentiful. I will warn you, though. It is an old fashioned icing and you have to follow his recipe very closely. If you do not, you will make something resembling maple syrup. It is still very good for pancakes, just not for a cake. How do I know about the maple syrup thing? I have done it twice!
And if you are not particular to Pecan Cake ( Nina Hollander, Broker ), maybe Chocolate Cake with Mocha Buttercream would be in order. This cake is almost as delicious and it is easier to make.
I think two cakes are surely in order for such a wonderful discovery.
We always wanted to go back to New Orleans. Sadly, we waited too long and his restaurant has closed, but we do have this great momento!
Thank you for the nudge to write about finding this photo, Endre Barath, Jr. You never know, it may lead us to New Orleans again. After all, there is Commander's Palace and Brennan's, the birthplace of Banana's Foster! Oh my, I feel another post coming on! ! !
Other Realtor Ray Tested Tasty Recipes
- Chicken Cacciatore
- Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef
- Homemade Eggnog
- Preserved Lemons
- Scalloped Potatoes with Fennel (Family Favorite)
- Burnt Eggplant
- Homemade Hummus
- Peanut Brittle
- Apple Butter
- Stuffed Cornish Game Hens (Family Favorite)
- Bacon Wrapped Dogs (Everyone's Favorite!)
- Jerusalem Artichoke and Arugula Soup
- The Golden Cadillac
- The Best Fruitcake Ever
- Garlic Confit (Family Favorite)
- Chicken Piccatta
- Rotel and Velveeta Cheese Dip
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